How far can I go in the Alps from Geneva in six days?
- Thread starter redsmartie
- Start date
If in doubt take a map and read the road signs and follow them.
I always wing it - isn't that what you're meant to do on a bike????
I always wing it - isn't that what you're meant to do on a bike????
Get John Hermann's excellent book & string a 6 day loop of the passes together
Or make a route using the Alpine Pass waypoints.gbd
Or make a route using the Alpine Pass waypoints.gbd
redsmartie
Registered user
redsmartie
Registered user
Proposed itinerary
Based on the information you've given me i have a draft itinerary (hotels are placeholders - next job)
Day 1 Home to Geneva
Route
- Ride bikes to Northampton - load bikes
- Shuttle to Airport
- Arrive Geneva
Accommodation - TBC
Route information
Geneva is a Swiss city that lies at the southern tip of expansive Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). Surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains, the city has views of dramatic Mont Blanc. Headquarters of Europe’s United Nations and the Red Cross, it’s a global hub for diplomacy and banking. French influence is widespread, from the language to gastronomy and bohemian districts like Carouge.
- Population:
- 188,634 (2012)
- Elevation:
- 375 m
- Area:
- 15.93 km²
Day 2 Geneva to Bramans - 170 miles
Route
- Geneva
- Col des Aravis
- Col de Saises
- Col de la Madeleine
- Bramans
Accommodation
Chalet Hôtel Auberge Relais les Glaciers (£63 on Booking.com)
http://www.hotel-lesglaciers.com/
Route information
The Col des Aravis is a mountain pass in the French Alps that connects the towns of La Clusaz in Haute-Savoie with La Giettaz in Savoie. At 1486 m. it is the lowest pass in the Aravis Range of mountains.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 1,487 m
- Col des Saisies is a mountain pass in the Alps in the department of Savoie in France. The pass is delimited by the peak of Bisanne to the west, and by the peaks of Légette and Chard du Beurre to the east.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 1,657 m
- Col de la Madeleine is a high mountain pass in the Alps in the department of Savoie in France which connects La Chambre in Maurienne with La Léchère in Tarentaise. The pass is closed from November to the beginning of June.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 1,993 m
Day 3 Bramans to Monaco - 199 miles
Route
- Bramans
- Briançon
- Borgo San Dalmazzo
- Menton
- Monaco
Accommodation
Hotel ibis budget Menton (approx £52)
57 Porte de France, 06500 Menton, France
accorhotels.com
Route information
The route crosses between Italy and France numerous times. Need to research further for tolls and border crossings.
Menton is a town on the French Riviera in southeast France. It’s known for its beaches and gardens like the Serre de la Madone garden, showcasing rare plants. East, the hilly, medieval old town is home to Basilique Saint Michel, with its 18th-century bell tower, and the ornate facade of La Chapelle des Pénitents-Blancs. Nearby, the Musée Jean Cocteau - Collection Severin Wunderman displays works by poet Jean Cocteau.
- Prefecture:
- Nice
- Population:
- 28,683 (2007)
- Area:
- 17 km²
Day 4 Monaco to Bramans - 199 miles
Route
- Menton
- Borgo San Dalmazzo
- Briançon
- Bramans
Alternative fast route available on motorways
Accommodation
Chalet Hôtel Auberge Relais les Glaciers (£63 on Booking.com)
http://www.hotel-lesglaciers.com/
Day 5 Bramans to Le Buet - 183 miles
Route
- Bramans
- Col de l'Iseran
- Col de Petit St Bernard
- Valle d’Aosta (advised not to stop)
- Col de Gran St Bernard
- Le Buet
Accommodation
Hôtel du Buet
Le Buet, 74660 Vallorcine, France
hotelbuet.com
+33 4 50 54 60 05
Route information
Col de l'Iseran is a mountain pass in France, the highest paved pass in the Alps. A part of the Graian Alps, it is situated in the department of Savoie, near the border with Italy, and is crossed by the D902 roadway.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 2,764 m
The Little St Bernard Pass is a mountain pass in the Alps on the France–Italy border. Its saddle is at 2188 metres above sea level.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 2,188 m
Valle d’Aosta, a region of northwest Italy, in the Western Alps, is known for its snow-capped mountains, Roman monuments and medieval castles. The area is bordered by France and Switzerland, near steep peaks including Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa and Gran Paradiso.
Great St. Bernard Pass is the third highest road pass in Switzerland. It connects Martigny in the Canton of Valais in Switzerland to Aosta in Italy.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 2,469 m
Day 6 Le Buet to Andermatt - 187 miles
Route
- Le Buet
- Martigny
- Sierre
- Brig
- Nufenenpass
- Furkapass
- Grimsel Pass
- Susten Pass
- Wassen
- Andermatt
Accommodation
Hotel Restaurant 3 Könige und Post
Gotthardstrasse 69, 6490 Andermatt, Switzerland
3koenige.ch
+41 41 887 00 01
Route information
Nufenen Pass is the second highest mountain pass with a paved road within Switzerland - after Umbrailpass. It lies between the summits of Pizzo Gallina and the Nufenestock.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 2,478 m
Furka Pass, with an elevation of 2,429 metres, is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting Gletsch, Valais with Realp, Uri. The Furka-Oberalp-Bahn line through the Furka Tunnel bypasses the pass.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 2,436 m
- The Grimsel Pass is a mountain pass in Switzerland, crossing the Bernese Alps at an elevation of 2,164 metres. The pass connects the Haslital, the upper valley of the river Aare, with the upper valley of the Rhône.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 2,165 m
- Susten Pass is a mountain pass in the Swiss Alps. The pass road, built from 1938–1945, connects Innertkirchen in the canton of Bern with Wassen in the canton of Uri. A 300 metres long tunnel crosses the pass at 2,224 metres.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 2,264 m
Day 7 Around Andermatt - 92 miles
Route
- Andermatt
- La Tremola
- Biasca
- Disentis/Mustér
- Andermatt
Accommodation
Hotel Restaurant 3 Könige und Post
Gotthardstrasse 69, 6490 Andermatt, Switzerland
3koenige.ch
+41 41 887 00 01
Day 8 Andermatt to Lauterbrunnen - 133 miles
Route
- Andermatt
- Wassen
- Susten Pass
- Lungern
- Glaubenberg Pass
- Entlebuch
- Interlaken
- Lauterbrunnen
Accommodation
Hotel Bernerhof
Dorfstrasse, 3823 Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
hotelbernerhof.ch
+41 33 855 27 21
Route information
Glaubenberg Pass is a high mountain pass in the Emmental Alps between the cantons of Lucerne and Obwalden in Switzerland. It connects Entlebuch and Sarnen.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 1,540 m
Lauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Swiss Alps. It encompasses the village of Lauterbrunnen, set in a valley featuring rocky cliffs and the roaring, 300m-*high Staubbach Falls. Nearby, the glacial waters of Trümmelbach Falls gush through mountain crevices past viewing platforms. A cable car runs from Stechelberg village to Schilthorn mountain, for views over the Bernese Alps.
Day 9 Lauterbrunnen to Geneva - 197 miles
Route
- Lauterbrunnen
- Spiez
- Juan Pass
- Monthey
- Geneva
Accommodation TBC
Route information
Jaun Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps linking Charmey and Jaun in the canton of Fribourg with Reidenbach in the canton of Bern. The pass itself is located within the canton of Bern. The pass road was completed in 1878.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 1,509 m
Day 10 Geneva to Home
Arrive home - spend a week posting photos and ride reports
Based on the information you've given me i have a draft itinerary (hotels are placeholders - next job)
Day 1 Home to Geneva
Route
- Ride bikes to Northampton - load bikes
- Shuttle to Airport
- Arrive Geneva
Accommodation - TBC
Route information
Geneva is a Swiss city that lies at the southern tip of expansive Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). Surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains, the city has views of dramatic Mont Blanc. Headquarters of Europe’s United Nations and the Red Cross, it’s a global hub for diplomacy and banking. French influence is widespread, from the language to gastronomy and bohemian districts like Carouge.
- Population:
- 188,634 (2012)
- Elevation:
- 375 m
- Area:
- 15.93 km²
Day 2 Geneva to Bramans - 170 miles
Route
- Geneva
- Col des Aravis
- Col de Saises
- Col de la Madeleine
- Bramans
Accommodation
Chalet Hôtel Auberge Relais les Glaciers (£63 on Booking.com)
http://www.hotel-lesglaciers.com/
Route information
The Col des Aravis is a mountain pass in the French Alps that connects the towns of La Clusaz in Haute-Savoie with La Giettaz in Savoie. At 1486 m. it is the lowest pass in the Aravis Range of mountains.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 1,487 m
- Col des Saisies is a mountain pass in the Alps in the department of Savoie in France. The pass is delimited by the peak of Bisanne to the west, and by the peaks of Légette and Chard du Beurre to the east.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 1,657 m
- Col de la Madeleine is a high mountain pass in the Alps in the department of Savoie in France which connects La Chambre in Maurienne with La Léchère in Tarentaise. The pass is closed from November to the beginning of June.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 1,993 m
Day 3 Bramans to Monaco - 199 miles
Route
- Bramans
- Briançon
- Borgo San Dalmazzo
- Menton
- Monaco
Accommodation
Hotel ibis budget Menton (approx £52)
57 Porte de France, 06500 Menton, France
accorhotels.com
Route information
The route crosses between Italy and France numerous times. Need to research further for tolls and border crossings.
Menton is a town on the French Riviera in southeast France. It’s known for its beaches and gardens like the Serre de la Madone garden, showcasing rare plants. East, the hilly, medieval old town is home to Basilique Saint Michel, with its 18th-century bell tower, and the ornate facade of La Chapelle des Pénitents-Blancs. Nearby, the Musée Jean Cocteau - Collection Severin Wunderman displays works by poet Jean Cocteau.
- Prefecture:
- Nice
- Population:
- 28,683 (2007)
- Area:
- 17 km²
Day 4 Monaco to Bramans - 199 miles
Route
- Menton
- Borgo San Dalmazzo
- Briançon
- Bramans
Alternative fast route available on motorways
Accommodation
Chalet Hôtel Auberge Relais les Glaciers (£63 on Booking.com)
http://www.hotel-lesglaciers.com/
Day 5 Bramans to Le Buet - 183 miles
Route
- Bramans
- Col de l'Iseran
- Col de Petit St Bernard
- Valle d’Aosta (advised not to stop)
- Col de Gran St Bernard
- Le Buet
Accommodation
Hôtel du Buet
Le Buet, 74660 Vallorcine, France
hotelbuet.com
+33 4 50 54 60 05
Route information
Col de l'Iseran is a mountain pass in France, the highest paved pass in the Alps. A part of the Graian Alps, it is situated in the department of Savoie, near the border with Italy, and is crossed by the D902 roadway.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 2,764 m
The Little St Bernard Pass is a mountain pass in the Alps on the France–Italy border. Its saddle is at 2188 metres above sea level.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 2,188 m
Valle d’Aosta, a region of northwest Italy, in the Western Alps, is known for its snow-capped mountains, Roman monuments and medieval castles. The area is bordered by France and Switzerland, near steep peaks including Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa and Gran Paradiso.
Great St. Bernard Pass is the third highest road pass in Switzerland. It connects Martigny in the Canton of Valais in Switzerland to Aosta in Italy.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 2,469 m
Day 6 Le Buet to Andermatt - 187 miles
Route
- Le Buet
- Martigny
- Sierre
- Brig
- Nufenenpass
- Furkapass
- Grimsel Pass
- Susten Pass
- Wassen
- Andermatt
Accommodation
Hotel Restaurant 3 Könige und Post
Gotthardstrasse 69, 6490 Andermatt, Switzerland
3koenige.ch
+41 41 887 00 01
Route information
Nufenen Pass is the second highest mountain pass with a paved road within Switzerland - after Umbrailpass. It lies between the summits of Pizzo Gallina and the Nufenestock.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 2,478 m
Furka Pass, with an elevation of 2,429 metres, is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting Gletsch, Valais with Realp, Uri. The Furka-Oberalp-Bahn line through the Furka Tunnel bypasses the pass.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 2,436 m
- The Grimsel Pass is a mountain pass in Switzerland, crossing the Bernese Alps at an elevation of 2,164 metres. The pass connects the Haslital, the upper valley of the river Aare, with the upper valley of the Rhône.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 2,165 m
- Susten Pass is a mountain pass in the Swiss Alps. The pass road, built from 1938–1945, connects Innertkirchen in the canton of Bern with Wassen in the canton of Uri. A 300 metres long tunnel crosses the pass at 2,224 metres.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 2,264 m
Day 7 Around Andermatt - 92 miles
Route
- Andermatt
- La Tremola
- Biasca
- Disentis/Mustér
- Andermatt
Accommodation
Hotel Restaurant 3 Könige und Post
Gotthardstrasse 69, 6490 Andermatt, Switzerland
3koenige.ch
+41 41 887 00 01
Day 8 Andermatt to Lauterbrunnen - 133 miles
Route
- Andermatt
- Wassen
- Susten Pass
- Lungern
- Glaubenberg Pass
- Entlebuch
- Interlaken
- Lauterbrunnen
Accommodation
Hotel Bernerhof
Dorfstrasse, 3823 Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
hotelbernerhof.ch
+41 33 855 27 21
Route information
Glaubenberg Pass is a high mountain pass in the Emmental Alps between the cantons of Lucerne and Obwalden in Switzerland. It connects Entlebuch and Sarnen.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 1,540 m
Lauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Swiss Alps. It encompasses the village of Lauterbrunnen, set in a valley featuring rocky cliffs and the roaring, 300m-*high Staubbach Falls. Nearby, the glacial waters of Trümmelbach Falls gush through mountain crevices past viewing platforms. A cable car runs from Stechelberg village to Schilthorn mountain, for views over the Bernese Alps.
Day 9 Lauterbrunnen to Geneva - 197 miles
Route
- Lauterbrunnen
- Spiez
- Juan Pass
- Monthey
- Geneva
Accommodation TBC
Route information
Jaun Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps linking Charmey and Jaun in the canton of Fribourg with Reidenbach in the canton of Bern. The pass itself is located within the canton of Bern. The pass road was completed in 1878.Wikipedia
- Elevation:
- 1,509 m
Day 10 Geneva to Home
Arrive home - spend a week posting photos and ride reports
If the weather is fine try and hit the Susten Pass at about 5.30 pm to 6 pm , we did it last year and it was like our own person playground , only saw 3 other vehicles .
Now you can see why I gave you a thread all of your own, redsmartie.
Excellent plan in post 45.
Look forward to the trip report and holiday snaps.
Excellent plan in post 45.
Look forward to the trip report and holiday snaps.
Except the plan is for ten days when he only has six, or did I miss a change of plan somewhere?
Certainly managed to pack a lot in but it is a lot of moving on each day, I normally pick a couple of places to stay at for a few nights when I have 10 days for a trip, for last years RDGA we spent 3 nights at Barcelonette the plan was to loop around to the East (Italy) and West (France) but poor weather on the first "free" day meant we did a small half day run. At BSM we did the trip around Mont Blanc from the book.
This is very personal and if you are really wanting to cover as many passes as possible it is a great plan, I find packing / unpacking every day a bit of a chore, same can apply to fixed routes for every day, "free" days allow a bit of going with the flow - as does not booking the Hotels up front which can commit you to 200 miles over passes in the rain, book as you go / a day or so in advance allows you to shorten a day if weather looks bad or extend it if it looks good.
I will post some route info up over the weekend.
The @200 mile mountain days will be 6-7 hours in the saddle plus your flower pressing time - I estimate 15 minutes stopped for each hour riding + 30 minutes extra for the lunch break which tends to work out about right for a nice day out with time for rests, leg stretches, photos etc.
Good points made by Rasher, as usual. 
kennyc
Registered user
Hotel Bernerhof
Dorfstrasse, 3823 Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
forgive me if I am missing something, but this Hotel apears to actually be in Wengen, Wengen is only accessible by train, you will need to pay and park up in Lauterbrunnen by the Station, if you want to stay in Lauterbrunnen the the Oberland is good, as is the Crystal, and the Jungfrau, there are also many others in the valley.
Dorfstrasse, 3823 Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
forgive me if I am missing something, but this Hotel apears to actually be in Wengen, Wengen is only accessible by train, you will need to pay and park up in Lauterbrunnen by the Station, if you want to stay in Lauterbrunnen the the Oberland is good, as is the Crystal, and the Jungfrau, there are also many others in the valley.
I noticed that you are proposing to use the Ibis Budget in Menton. I looked at that and the Ibis Styles (better value, I thought - includes a very good breakfast.. anyway) neither of the Ibis had any parking - on street only.
You may not consider this a problem until you get there and find there are more bikes and scooters than you an shake a stick at. You may find parking for one, but several together, I think not, and they may be some distance away. Its a busy place.
We were there last December and it was jam packed with the scooters and bikes, everywhere.
Booking.com found us this place http://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/hot...ecf9a5ac955b97701e427b06X1;type=total;ucfs=1&
which turned out very well. Very friendly staff who dealt with an incorrect date issue which could have been a bit of a woopsy and upgraded us to a better view. Breakfast was good, and included, too. The garage is divided into "rooms" with pictures in so your bikes will feel at home. Maybe you will only need to pay for one space? €20 for a subterranean vault. It will feel cheap if you arrive tired.
If it doesn't float your boat then at least you can look into the parking issue - if necessary.
You may not consider this a problem until you get there and find there are more bikes and scooters than you an shake a stick at. You may find parking for one, but several together, I think not, and they may be some distance away. Its a busy place.
We were there last December and it was jam packed with the scooters and bikes, everywhere.
Booking.com found us this place http://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/hot...ecf9a5ac955b97701e427b06X1;type=total;ucfs=1&
which turned out very well. Very friendly staff who dealt with an incorrect date issue which could have been a bit of a woopsy and upgraded us to a better view. Breakfast was good, and included, too. The garage is divided into "rooms" with pictures in so your bikes will feel at home. Maybe you will only need to pay for one space? €20 for a subterranean vault. It will feel cheap if you arrive tired.
If it doesn't float your boat then at least you can look into the parking issue - if necessary.
Simon W
Registered user
Picking up on Parhcman's point about Menton: I never stop on the Riviera itself, but stay in Sospel instead - one pass short of the coast and much more pleasant. Here's another booking.com link to the Auberge Provencal
ETA: Looks like it's been refurbed since I was last there and it wasn't bad then...
ETA: Looks like it's been refurbed since I was last there and it wasn't bad then...
Swiss Mike
Registered user
The Bernerhof is in Wengen you would have to leave your bike at the railway station in Lauterbrunnen and take a train up to Wengen. as far as I know there is no bike charges.
Try the Hotel Staubbach the manager is English and a biker.
Swiss Mike
Registered user
The Bernerhof is in Wengen you would have to leave your bike at the railway station in Lauterbrunnen and take a train up to Wengen. as far as I know there is no bike charges.
Try the Hotel Staubbach the manager is English and a biker.
We used Hotel Pavillon Imperial when we stopped in Menton in 2011, it was well priced, just over the road from the beach and had parking inside its own grounds (with gates that are locked at night) always worth checking any Hotel has private parking, especially in towns and cities - some charge a couple of quid a night, but better than hunting around for a spot to park.
I reckon 6-7 hours in the saddle depending on the Ops pace, maybe more if weather is particularly bad. Still no more than a 10 hour day with a good amount of breaks.
I have done longer runs on the passes many times, 150 - 180 is my preferred target for fairly easy days with plenty of time for flower pressing, but 220+ is possible if need be - I would just make sure I book the Hotel the night before (or earlier) so as to not have the stress of running late and desperately looking for a Hotel - or go the other way and not book but instead look for a Hotel along the route and just stop when you feel like it.
Troppo
Bemused observer
Yes, I would also caution against packing and un packing every day - it is a right royal pain in the arse.
A lot to be said for picking a base (like Andermatt) and stopping there for a few days...
A lot to be said for picking a base (like Andermatt) and stopping there for a few days...
Nice one !!!
I'll bank that info as definitely going back down to the SOF/RDGA again this year on 2 wheels and hopefully on 4 if the car arrives before Autumn.
Ditto the advice of not staying on the coast-we planned to stay here in Roubion last year but it was just too quiet as was off season.
Further around and up,I still love Castellane and can recommend the Nouvel Hotel Du Commerce having stayed there again last month.
+1 for Sospel. Stayed there last year and going back in July. Everything you need there without the crowds, and the ride up and back from the coast is good too.
